Lubricating apparatus



' May 22, 1934.

w. z. LINDERS 1,959,724

'LUBRIGATING APPARATUS Filed June 21. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l May 22, 1934. w. z. LINDERS LUBRICATING APPARATUS Filed June 27, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 22, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I Lincoln Engineering Company,

St. Louis, Mo.,

a corporation of Missouri Application June 2'7, 1931, Serial No. 547,339

Claims.

This invention relates to lubricating apparatus, and with regard to certain more specific features, to lubricating apparatus of the automatically starting type.

5 Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision of lubricating apparatus which shall deliver fluid such as grease under pressure when a valve in an outlet line is opened, the same being adapted to start and continue pumping automatically after said valve is opened and to cease pumping when said valve is closed; the provision of apparatus of the class described which shall have full pressure available immediately upon opening said valve; the provision of, apparatus of the class described operated by an electric motor but not requiring a separate electric switch at the point of control of said valve; the provision of apparatus of the class described wherein said motor is not required to start and stop under load each time that said valve is open; and the provision of apparatus of the class described which shall be simple and rugged in construction and positive in operation, and which shall place a minimum load on said motor. Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations of elements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the structure hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which is illustrated one of various possible embodiments of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the invention, certain parts being broken away to show detail;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, certain portions being brokenaway to show further detail; and,-

Fig. 3 is a detailed view of a pressure release device.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 1, there is shown at numeral 1 a base of a portable lubricator upon which base there is located an electric motor 3 carrying on the shaft thereof a pinion 5 meshed with a gear '7. The gear '7 is mounted on a counter shaft 9 borne in a bearing 11 attached to said frame 1. The gearing 5 '7 is located with n a suitable protective housing '13, also attached to the base 1.

On the counter shaft 9 is mounted a cam 15 55 operative upon a follower 1'7. The follower 1'7 is carried upon a reciprocating polygonal carriage 19 borne in a polygonal bearing 21. The follower 17 is held against the cam 15 by means of a return spring 23 operative against the carriage 19.

The carriage drives a forwardly extending plunger 25 which reciprocates across a port 2'7 in a pump bushing 29 to withdraw material from said port 27 and eject the same to an outlet 31. Return of material under pressure from the outlet 31 is prevented by a check valve 33.

The outlet 31 is in communication with a flexible line 35 or the like which communicates with a grease-gun 3'7 which in effect comprises a valve adapted to be opened and closed from a handle 39 thereon. The valve or gun 3'7 is thus adapted to permit starting of or to check flow in the line 35, provided the material in the line 35 is under pressure. The outlet of the valve 3'7 communicates with a coupling member 41 adapted to be connected with fittings for receiving the material pumped. Y

A body portion 43 surrounding the reciprocating pumping element supports a supply tank 45 for carrying grease or the like. A strainer 47 holds back passage of foreign matter from the container 45 to the inlet 2'7 but permits flow of grease and like fluid.

From the above it will be seen that when the motor 3 is operated, it will drive the cam 15, thus causing reciprocation of the carriage 19 and plunger 25 to withdraw fluid from the container 45 and pump the same at the check valve 33 into the line 35. If the valve 37 is closed the pressure will rise in the line 35. It is therefore clear that it becomes desirable to relieve the motor 3 when the predetermined pressure has been reached which it is desired to obtain in the line 35. This pressure should be maintained in said line 25 sothat when the valve 37 is opened, there will be immediately available full line pressure for delivering fluid from the coupling or nozzle 41.

In order to relieve the motor in the desired manner, there is provided on the down stream side of the check valve 33 a by-pass 49 joined by means of a line 51 with inside bore 53 of a body member 55, the latter being fastened to said frame 1.

The body member 55 carries a cap 5'7 in which is located a spring 59 having an adjustable abutment 61 and reacting against the upper end of a plunger 63. The plunger 63 is reciprocatingly mounted in the bore 53 and sealed by means of packing 65. The plunger 63 tends to be pressed downwardly by the spring 59 but pressure in the line 51 tends to raise the plunger 63.

Under pressure in the line 51 the lower end 67 of the plunger 63 is adapted first to uncover a port 69 and then a port 71. In Fig. 2 the lower port 69 is shown open and the port 71 is shown closed. In Fig. 3 conditions of low pressure in the line 51 are illustrated wherein the plunger 63 is entirely down. Under these conditions a peripheral recess 73 in the plunger is adapted to connect the port 71 with a port 75, the latter leading to the supply or suction side of the plunger 25, this being done by way of line 77 leading into a passage 79 of said passage 43. The said passage 79 is in communication with the supply tank 45.

The plunger 63 is lifted to uncover the second port 71 (and material thus by-passed from the downstream side of the check valve 33t'o the supply) only when excessive pressures are'engendered in the outlet 31. Otherwise, only the lower port 69 is opened, this opening being under conditions of normal high pressure in the line 51, and closed under conditions of substantially reduced pressure in said line 51.

Whenthe port 69 is uncovered, then the ports 71 and are closed off from one another (Fig. 2) and when the port 69 is covered said ports 71 and 75 are in communication. Thus it is possible under pressure conditions in the line 51 to deliver material under pressure to the end of a plunger 6. The plunger 6 is sealed by a packing 81; The plunger 6- also engages a lock pin 83-, normally returned by a spring 85. The lock pin 83 is returned under conditions of sub stantially no pressure or low pressure in the line 51 and driven out under conditions of normal pressure in said line. Under conditions of abnormally high pressure in said line the pin 83 is maintained in an outward locking position but at the same time the plunger 63 (Fig. 2) rises a greater amount and relieves the excessive pressure into the supply.

The purpose of the plunger 83 is to engage with a notch 87 in the carriage 19 when said plunger 83 isdriven outwardly.

' The operation of the device is as follows:

With no pressure in the outlet or delivery line 35, there will be no pressure in the line 51. Consequently the plunger 63 will be depressed and no, pressure will be in the outlet 69. ,Hence the spring 85 will hold the the notch 87.

Upon turning on the motor 3 by energizing the same from a suitable source 2, the cam 15 will be driven by means of the train of gears 5, 7 so as to reciprocate the carriage 19 and hence plunger 83 retracted from the plunger 25 will be reciprocated. The result will be that material is drawn in from the container 45 and pressure from the line 35 passes the check valve 33. Pressure will build up in the line 35 and also in the by-pass line 51. The plunger 63 will thus be raised until the port 69 is uncovered. This will result in pressure being exerted upon the plunger 6 against the spring 85 of the lock pin 83. The adjustment of the screw 61 for the spring 59 is such that the port 69 is uncovered at the predetermined pressurev 'at which it is desired to relieve the motor 3. When this pressure is reached said port 69 is uncovered and'the plunger 83 driven into said notch 87, whereupon the carriage 19 will be prevented from further reciprocating. A taper on the plunger 83 and in the notch 8'7 insures that the plunger can be driven into the notch while the carriage 19 is moving and also insures that the follower 17 shall be completely withdrawn-out of all contact with the cam 15 in all positions of the latbe interpreted as fering with action of means for breaking and closing said connection.

ter. Thus the follower 17 is held away from the cam 15 as the latter rotates and the motor merel drives the then idle gears 5. 7.

If by chance, the pressure in the line 35 arises excessively, further lifting of the plunger 63 results in theport 71 being put into communication with the return line 77. This insures that the line 35 will be released to the supply in the tank 45.

When the valve 37 is opened, the pressure in the line 35 is immediately available at the connector or coupling 41. I The incipient reduction in pressure results in reduction of pressure in the line 51 and consequently the port 69 is cut oil. It reduces the' pressure behind the plunger 83 which is withdrawn from the notch 87 by the spring 85. Exhaust of material from behind the. plunger 71 is effected through the then open exhaust ports 71, 73, 75 (Fig. 3) This immediately permits the spring 23 to drive the follower down onto the cam 15, whereupon the motor assumes its load by reacting through the gears 5, 7. The plunger 25 is .reciprocated to maintain a pressure line 35 which is only slightly below that required to hold the plunger '63 above the port 69.

When the valve 37 again cuts ofi the line 35, the pressure therein builds up slightly to raise the plunger 63 and uncover the port 69.

One of the advantages of the invention is that the motor 3 is continuously running but there is a definite break in the mechanical connection between the same and the pumping means. This means that minimum wear is taking place while the motor is running freely. Furthermore, the

out the above constructions without departing.

from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall illustrative and not in a limiting sense. e

I claim: I 1. In apparatus of the class described, a noncompressible material supply chamber, a delivery line leading from said chamber, a control valve in said line for permitting and stopping flow therethrough, pumping means for forcing the material from said supply chamber to the delivery line, an electric motor, means for effecting a driving connection between said motor and said pumping means, pressure-controlled means for breaking said driving connection between the motor and the pumping means, means for leading non-compressible fluid pressure from said delivery lines to said breaking means, and means whereby a decrease indelivery line pressure ef- -fects closing of the driving connection, whereby opening of the valve initiates flow and closing of the valve results in thedelivery line pressure building up to apoint where said driving connection is reopened, and means whereby a further dangerous increase is prevented without interthe pressure controlled 2. In apparatus of the class described; a material supply chamber, a delivery line leading from said chamber, a control valve in said line for permitting and stopping flow therethrough, pumping means for forcing material from said supply chamber to the'delivery line under relatively high normalpressure, a motor, means for effecting a mechanical driving connection between said motor and said pumping means, a forcing member in said connection, a reciprocating carriage operable by said forcing member adapted to operate said pumping means, non-compressible-fluid pressure-operating means for holding said carriage in a receded postion from said forcing member when the pressure in the outlet line is relatively high, said last-named means being adapted to release said carriage to be reciprocated by said forcing member when said pressure is relatively low, means for bypassing material from the outlet line to the supply under conditions of excess pressure in the outlet line, said excess pressurebeing above said relatively high normal pressure, and means for completely relieving pressure on said pressure operating means when the same is in released condition.

3. 1n apparatus of the class described, a material supply chamber, a delivery line leading from said chamber, reciprocating means adapted to deliver material from the supply to the delivery line, means for engaging said reciprocating means to drive the same, a spring adapted to hold the reciprocating means against the driving means therefor, and meansior temporarily holding said reciprocating means from the driving means when the pressure in said lines attains a predetermined amount, and means for by-passing material from the deliveryline to the container when the pressure in said line becomes excessive,'said last-named means being associated with the means for holding the reciprocating element so that the latter continues to hold the element during conditions of by-passing.

4. In lubricating apparatus, a lubricant supply chamber, a delivery line leading from said supply chamber, a control valve in said line v OI for permitting and stopping flow therethrough, reciprocating means for forcing lubricant from said chamber to the delivery line, motivating means, a mechanical drive between the motivating means and the reciprocating means adapted to be disconnected, a plunger adapted to lock the reciprocating means to effect a disconnection, means communicating with said delivery line adapted to deliver pressure to said plunger to cause the same to lock the reciprocating means under predetermined delivery line pressure, and means whereby said plunger is relieved of.all pressure so as to positively clear the reciprocating means at pressures in said delivery line which are beneath said predetermined value.

5. In lubricating apparatus, reciprocating means adapted to pump fluid from a supply and deliver the same and comprising a reciprocating member, a forcing means adapted to drive said member, means for locking said reciprocating member out of engagement with said forcing means to relieve said forcing means of load, said locking means comprising a plunger adapted to intersect the path of motion toward the foreing means of the reciprocating means, means for holding the plunger in a non-intersecting position, valve means communicating with the delivery, said valve means having a springpressed stem, ports adapted to be covered and uncovered by said stem under predetermined delivery pressure, said stem under predetermined delivery pressure uncovering one of said ports which communicates with the plunger, whereby the plunger is moved to lock the reciprocating means, said stem upon returning under reduced delivery pressures being adapted to uncover anthe plunger with all delivery line pressure so as ciprocating means.

WILLIAM Z. HNDERS. 

